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The Apostles' Signs and Healing Ministry
Acts 5:12–16 gives a short overview of the apostles’ public ministry. It highlights signs and wonders, the people’s mixed response, the growth of believers, and the healing of those brought from Jerusalem and nearby cities.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
This summary focuses on the apostles together in Solomon’s porch. It describes many signs and wonders among the people, public respect mixed with caution, and growing numbers of believers. It also says people brought the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and that they were all healed.
Acts 5:12–16Main takeaway
This passage presents the apostles’ ministry as united and public, with signs, healing, and people being added to the Lord.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Signs and wonders among the peopleThe passage says that many signs and wonders were done “by the hands of the apostles”. That wording identifies the apostles as the human agents in this ministry.
Explanation
The passage says that many signs and wonders were done “by the hands of the apostles”. That wording identifies the apostles as the human agents in this ministry. It also says they were all together “with one accord” in Solomon’s porch, showing a united ministry in a public place.
02Respect mixed with cautionThe next verse shows a careful balance in the public response. “None of the rest dared to join them”, so some people kept their distance.
Explanation
The next verse shows a careful balance in the public response. “None of the rest dared to join them”, so some people kept their distance. At the same time, “the people honored them”. The passage does not explain why, but it clearly presents both caution and respect together.
03Believers added to the LordEven with that caution, the number of believers kept growing. The passage says “more believers were added to the Lord”, then strengthens the point by saying “multitudes”.
Explanation
Even with that caution, the number of believers kept growing. The passage says “more believers were added to the Lord”, then strengthens the point by saying “multitudes”. It also names “both men and women”, showing that this growth included a wide range of people.
04The sick brought into the streetsPeople carried the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses. Peter is named because people hoped that at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.
Explanation
People carried the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses. Peter is named because people hoped that at least his shadow might overshadow some of them. The passage reports what people did and expected, showing how closely they connected this ministry with healing.
05Nearby cities and full healingThe ministry’s effect reached beyond Jerusalem. A multitude came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those tormented by unclean spirits.
Explanation
The ministry’s effect reached beyond Jerusalem. A multitude came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those tormented by unclean spirits. The outcome is stated plainly: “they were all healed”. In this brief overview, healing stands out as a major feature of the apostles’ work.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two things does Acts 5:12 say about the apostles’ ministry and gathering?
Look for the works called “signs and wonders” and the place where they were together with one accord.
02How do Acts 5:13–14 show both caution and growth?
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Acts 5:12–16
12By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
13None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honored them.
14More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.
15They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.
16The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.